A proposed six-storey, 78-unit mixed-market rental apartment building on O’Shea Road drew both support and concern during a July 15 public hearing held Tuesday afternoon at Gibsons Town Hall.
The development, a partnership between the Town of Gibsons, the Kiwanis Housing Society, and prospective funding partners, would mark the third phase of housing on town-owned land near White Tower Park.
The project includes a landscaped courtyard, trail connections, and a 10 per cent park dedication buffer to the adjacent forest.
Planner Kirsten Rockins explained that the proposed Official Community Plan and zoning amendments would “explicitly allow for not-for-profit rental housing,” increase the maximum building height from four to six storeys, and reduce parking requirements to 0.35 spaces per seniors unit and 0.7 per rental unit.
Public feedback was divided. Lee Ann Johnson, a former councillor, spoke in strong support: “This is, I believe, just about the last opportunity we’ve got to use [town land] for affordable, permanent, affordable rental housing.” She praised the project’s mixed-income model, saying it “removes the stigma” and fosters community integration.
Others raised concerns about traffic, parking, and environmental impacts. Drew McLennan, who lives nearby, said, “It just feels like you guys are trying to jam everything into that one neighbourhood.” He added, “Please take a look at other areas of the town that you guys haven’t touched, that are close to transit, that are close to shopping … we can’t be the holy mecca of where you need to put everybody.”
Wanda Selzer questioned the parking provisions, noting, “To only provide… 50 something parking spaces … is really quite dramatic.” In her written submission, she also urged council to consider the area’s ecological value, calling it “the last chance for Gibsons to preserve a sizable piece of level land.”
Kim Wilkinson echoed environmental concerns in a written submission, citing the presence of a breeding pair of pileated woodpeckers and the area’s role as a wildlife corridor. “Losing a breeding pair would weaken the town forest’s natural ability to regenerate, increasing long-term costs as we lose valuable, 'free' ecosystem services--such as water filtration, carbon storage, climate adaptation, and biodiversity resilience,” she wrote.
No further public input is accepted following the adjournment of the hearing.
Council passed third reading of the bylaw amendments during a special meeting held later that day. A more detailed report on the meeting was published after Coast Reporter’s print deadline.
Jordan Copp is Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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